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Key voices for cycle advocacy have welcomed the move to axe a number of 1960s gyratories in London.
This week Mayor Boris Johnson and Transport for London committed £300m to transforming thirty-three of London’s biggest and "nastiest" road junctions, replacing them with with two-way roads, segregated cycle tracks and new traffic-free public space.
The London Cycling Campaign (LCC) welcomed the move and the funding increase, up from the original £19m and the sum later allocated of £100m, according to the LCC, which said: "This announcement vindicates the actions of the many thousands of people who have supported recent LCC campaigns to make junctions safe by adopting international quality of provision for cycling."
LCC chief executive Ashok Sinha said: “At last we have a firm commitment, and the funding, to tackle the main barriers to cycling as identified by cyclists in the capital. Rapid implementation of this programme will help reduce deaths and serious injuries to cyclists, as well as make our roads safer for pedestrians too. We share the Mayor’s view that gyratories blight our capital and removing them will improve quality of life for all.”
British Cycling have been keen to praise the move too, emphasising how political leadership for cycling can make all the difference.
British Cycling campaigns manager, Martin Key, said: "This is yet another example of the transformational difference that can be made when there is clear political leadership to prioritise cycling as a form of transport. The Mayor and Transport for London have a clear vision for improving the daily experience for thousands of people who choose to cycle across the capital.
“This scheme to fix the worst junctions brings us one step closer to persuading thousands more people to take up cycling as an attractive and easy way to get around. We’d urge cities across Britain to follow suit."
British Cycling has a ten-point plan for ‘cycle-proofing’ which you can read more about here.
